Social vulnerability triage: a dynamic scenario-based system for disaster planning and response

Disaster response planners face a difficult task: not only do they need to foresee a multitude of complex future hazard scenarios, but they also make critical decisions concerning what kind of assistance should be provided to various vulnerable groups, how quickly, and in what order. To complement existing risk and vulnerability assessment methods, we developed a dynamic social vulnerability triage system that supports such evidence-based decision-making. The novel software solution can be used to first systematically map the intersecting sources of hazard in a real or future hazard scenario, including the direct impact of the hazardous event (e.g. flood, wildfire, terrorist attack), disruptions of vital services and support structures, and communication barriers that hamper accessing or understanding risk and crisis information. Subsequently, based on this mapping of the hazard situation, the system guides the user through identifying vulnerable groups and assessing the nature and urgency of the assistance they may need. The triage results support more effective disaster risk mitigation, preparedness, communication and response planning, and help to ensure more fair and efficient resource use in crisis response.